I just tried to install XP (for the 2nd time - same error the 1st time, but another install didn't help) on a new system. Once XP finishes installing, however, it goes to start up for the 1st (and every subsequent) time and gives me this error: STOP: C0000221 unknown hard error \SystemRoot\System32\ntdll.dll (windows doesn't manage to start before the error comes - it comes on the loading screen) This error persists if I start XP in "Safe Mode with Networking" but not if I start XP in simple "Safe Mode". I've disabled my floppy, my CDROM, my USB devices, and I've switched my memory stick around in different slots. I can't replace my memory stick or my hard drive since I'm retarded and took my own computer down to my apartment yesterday, and I'm kinda thinking the problem may lie in one of those two. Anyone have any thoughs (or solutions)? The system is running on an N-Force motherboard and an 80 GB WD Hard drive - all new parts.

Yours is near the bottom of this page: Find a list of STOP MESSAGES here: http://aumha.org/win5/kbestop.htm

yeah, i checked out the microsoft support article to which that page links earlier, so I knew/know it's some sort of hardware issue (drivers or actual hardware), but I'm wondering if anyone can make a slightly more specific theory as to why I keep encountering that error (like "is it part of the nForce chipset" or "is it the hard drive", "is it the memory", etc). anyone with any experience in dealing with this problem will be invaluable! Ryan